Fashion Design students from The International Academy of Design and Technology debuted their collections Sept. 30 at the Imagine Fashion Show at Benaroya Hall. Judges were David Blackham, founder, owner and president of David Lawrence at The Bravern; Cynarah Ellawala, COO + CMO of Fashion Network-Seattle; Derieontay D. Sparks, VP – store manager of the Southcenter Macy’s; Alison Brownrigg, freelance shopping and fashion writer for NWSource.com; and myself.
The night before, we judged more than 130 garments that were submitted by the students and the alumni graduates. The criteria for our judging was based on creativity, construction, and if the design was current and wearable. We spent about three hours looking at each garment on a live model and later on the hanger, determining the winners.
When Friday night approached, you could feel the nerves and excitement in the room, where each student designer patiently listened in hopes that their name would be announced by this year’s host Teresa Gonzalez, news anchor and reporter, co-host Michelle Font, or by the presenters Amy Yamada, Cameron Johnson and Angelina Kayyalaynen, Miss Washington USA.
Talented young members from the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra under the leadership of Music Director Geoffrey Larson performed throughout the evening, adding some more elegance to the evening. This was my first introduction to this chamber orchestra, and I look forward to attending their season opening at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at Benaroya Hall. (www.SeattleMetropolitanChamberOrchestra.com)
The 2011 student winners
Best of Show: Laksmi Mckenna; Best Evening Dress: Lisa Jones; Best Day Wear: Julius Leano; Best Cocktail: Corban Harper; and Best Alumni: Bellevue Designer Olga Earle.
An Honorary Award was given to Kirkland resident Monir Zandghoreishi, fashion design and merchandising program chair, for her on-going dedication to IADT and to her students.
Congrats also to this year’s Imagine Director Eduardo Khawam, who also will be the producer for Metropolitan Fashion Week in 2012. For the past three years Eduardo has made this event a huge success, sharing the opportunity to see many talented students showcasing their design talents as they prepare to enter the world of fashion.
